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Colonel Martin Leppert USARNG (Ret.) is a Research Fellow at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies. He is currently serving in an Intergovernmental Personnel Assignment (IPA) role with the Army's Engineer Research and Development Center, Alexandria, VA. Colonel Leppert's service in Afghanistan included a role as the Special Assistant to the Army National Guard, where he planned, coordinated and executed the Afghan Agribusiness Development mission in support of NATO operations in Afghanistan. He recently took part in a training program for National Guard Agribusiness Development Teams, in which he was able to put his experience to work on behalf of those who are headed to Afghanistan to help bring stability and prosperity to local farming communities. Click here to read coverage of the training program.
Potomac Institute for Policy Studies Senior Fellow Amb. David Smith, (Ret.), is the Director of the Georgian Security Analysis Center in Tbilisi, Georgia. He writes and lectures extensively on cybersecurity and the role of electronic media in international relations and national security. At the Institute's sixth Cyber Challenge Symposium, held on October 5, Smith talked about the need for policymakers to recognize differing cultures as they work toward the formulation of cybersecurity policy. Click here to read coverage on the FierceGovernmentIT news website.
Prof. James Giordano, PhD, is a neuroscientist, Vice President for Academic Programs and Director of the Center for Neurotechnology Studies at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies. In comments to New Scientist also published in Electronics Weekly, he talks about scientists' research into the area of "thinking" robots. Click here to read the article including Prof. Giordano's comments, then click here to read his NeuroBioEthics blog post on the effort to build conscious machines.
Potomac Institute for Policy Studies Senior Fellow Amb. David Smith, (Ret.), is the Director of the Georgian Security Analysis Center in Tbilisi, Georgia. In a recent column for Georgian media, he writes about Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's recent ploy to regain the office of President. Smith writes, "Putin is the once and future czar of Russia, no matter what western columnists write or democratic politicians want," and he is certain to win the office in the upcoming March elections. But this time around, Smith warns, a Putin presidency is likely to be plagued by fresh problems that could spell trouble not just for Russia, but also for the international community. Click below to read the article in full.
The Potomac Institute for Policy Studies is pleased to announce that Miriam Jackson has been promoted to the position of Director of Finance. Ms. Jackson joined the Institute in October of 2007, as a Staff Accountant. She then acquired additional duties and responsibilities as a Contracts Administrator, in 2008. In 2010, Ms. Jackson was honored as a recipient of a Potomac Institute Corporate Officers' Award for her outstanding service. Prior to joining the Potomac Institute, Ms. Jackson was employed as a Staff Accountant in the Finance Departments of the National Heritage Foundation (NHF) and the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). She previously interned at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) in the office of the Chief of Budget.
Commenting on Ms. Jackson's promotion, Vice President for Financial Management and CFO Gail Clifford said, "She is one of our greatest assets and an essential member of the Finance & Contracts division. Her professionalism and thirst for knowledge make it a pleasure to work with Miriam."